On the heels of news that the wedding industry is experiencing a unique version of the recession with the number of weddings increasing while the amount spent on each wedding is decreasing comes excellent news for the Certified Wedding Planner.

According to The Wedding Report, average fees for full service Certified Wedding Planners have increased over the past year from $1,940 in 2008 to over $2,300 through the second quarter of 2009. Today’s couples paying more for professional planners to help them realize their wedding day dreams without breaking their wedding budgets.

In other words, if you are not one already, now is the time to become a wedding planner. What other industry is getting a 20% raise this year?

By understanding current wedding trends, Certified Wedding Planners and those learning how to become a wedding planner can provide value and solutions to their clients during continued economic unease.

According to research compiled by The Wedding Report:

Areas of spending decline from 2007 to 2008

·         Wedding dress fell by 31%

·         Rehearsal dinner fell by 34%

·         Spending for a DJ fell by 6%

·         Bridesmaid bouquets fell by 36%

·         Gifts for attendants fell by 38%

·         Wedding invitations fell by 34%

·         Engagement ring fell by 30%

·         Photographer fell by 26%

·         Videographer fell by 24%

·         Wedding cake fell by 33%

·         Wedding favors fell by 9%

·         Reception food service fell by 53%

·         Limo rental fell by 24%

The current economic state is the primary factor for most spending declines, with smaller guest lists and lower-priced vendor options also contributing.

Areas of spending increase from 2007 to 2008

·         Tuxedo/suit increased by 47%

·         Ceremony location increased by 108%

·         Bride bouquet increased by 1%

·         Brides wedding band increased by 21%

·         Grooms wedding band increased by 38%

·         Reception bar service increased by 12%

·         Reception location increased by 15%

·         Reception rentals increased by 84%

Combined reception and ceremony events led to the increase in location costs while a de-emphasis on engagement rings led to higher-priced wedding band choices.

Elections matter.

Perhaps one of the most heartening changes brought about by the latest presidential election is the renewed emphasis of the role of healthy marriages in our society. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michele Obama are being hailed not just as our new First Family, but as examples of what we should all strive for in our marital relationships.

President and First Lady First Dance

From election night predictions of a national, hope-inspired baby boom to their romantic, exquisite first dances on inauguration night, Barack and Michelle Obama have been lauded for their family values and for embracing the American dream of family first. Apart from the visible model, President Obama also appears to back up his conjugal disposition with legislative ambitions geared to both strengthen and promote marriage.

Just after noon on January 20, 2009, the Obama Administration refreshed the official White House website to include a family agenda that features expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act and reintroduction of the Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act. At about the same time, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families home page was updated to reflect the new president’s intention to continue the ACF mission “to help couples, who have chosen marriage for themselves, gain greater access to marriage education services, on a voluntary basis, where they can acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to form and sustain a healthy marriage.”

But even our idea of who marries and why has changed over the years.

In August 2001, the American Sociological Review reported that while 90% of American women are predicted to marry at least once in their lifetimes, women who are educated and affluent are marrying more and divorcing less often than their poorer and less-educated counterparts. This “Marriage Gap” is evident when a low-income couple puts off marriage until they can “afford it” despite having children together and a high-income couple sets a wedding date with the idea of starting their family once married.

A majority of young Americans view marriage as a status one builds up to, often through cohabitation first, and definitely after one’s finances are in order. In his November 2004 article in the Journal of Marriage and Family, “The Deinstitutionalization of American Marriage”, Andrew Cherlin explored how the institution of marriage has been weakened by changes in the social norms that define partners’ behavior. He also attempts to answer why so many people still marry or plan to marry when cohabitation and single parenthood are widely acceptable options. The symbolic significance of marriage remains high, but has transformed from a marker of conformity to a marker of prestige.

A 2001 survey by Barbara Whitehead and David Popenoe, titled “The State of Our Unions”, found that over 80% of young women feel it is more important for their husband to be able to communicate his deepest feelings than it is for him to make a good living. Nearly all unmarried respondents agreed that finding their soul mate, as opposed to someone who is a good provider or religiously compatible, is the most important factor in choosing a fiancé.

Cherlin’s findings also indicate that more and more people are viewing the wedding ceremony not as a symbol of their parents’ approval or a reason to have children, but as a statement and celebration of their own status and progress in life.

In the continuing evolution of our view of marital relationships, we can take our lead from the First Family or from our own feelings on why and when we tie the knot. But when it comes to creating the celebrations that connote the prestige, passion, and stability of the modern marriage, we take comfort in the creative and commendable work of Certified Wedding Planners everywhere.

Barack and Michelle Obama Wedding Day

While in the midst of the engagement season, many brides and grooms are finding it more than necessary to prioritize their wedding budgets. Whether they are slashing guest lists, sharing vows with betrothed friends, bartering their time and skills for venues and services, taking weekend ‘mini-moons’, or turning a Taco Bell into a drive-thru chapel/reception hall, couples are demanding more for less from their Certified Wedding Planners and their wedding vendors.

Taco Bell Wedding Venue

According to The Wedding Report, the median cost of a wedding in 2008 dropped by 24% from the previous year. While wedding budgets in 2007 averaged $28,704, including almost $1,500 spent on wedding planning services, recession concerns drove wedding budgets down to $21,814 for the most recent year. The wedding industry overall, which boasted a market value of over $72 billion just a couple years ago, is estimated to reach just $61.4 billion for 2009.

Batering For Wedding Goods and Services

Meanwhile, as brides use creativity and bargaining to navigate the still unsettling economy, Certified Wedding Planners are poised to play a crucial role in helping squeeze the most value from wedding budgets in the form of vendor discounts and venue deals. Despite the average cost of the overall wedding decreasing dramatically, wedding planners and bridal consultants will be paid more money than ever to help couples match their eager dreams to their meager budgets.

Here are The Wedding Report’s projected earnings for wedding planners in 2009:

Over the past three months, The Wedding Report has compiled information from its state of the industry survey from over 500 wedding vendors. The resulting Wedding Industry Index gives the Certified Wedding Planner a snapshot of how well our industry is holding up through the current recession.

Current Sales – From August through October 2008, 37% of vendors rated their current sales as either good or excellent. Fair or neutral ratings were reported by 48% of respondents and just 15% considered their sales to be poor.

With many in the financial industry expecting poor results from wedding businesses, actual results from the third quarter have been surprisingly good for wedding industry stalwarts such as The Knot. Similar dismal prognostications are being floated for diamond and fine jewelry seller Blue Nile and for businesses affected by recent electoral challenges.

Average Amount Spent – Vendor responses for the past three months indicate the average wedding client increased spending 13% of the time and that 29% decreased their spending. Overall, a majority of 58% of vendors report their customers’ spending remained the same as in previous months.

Although the current economic crisis is squeezing consumer spending across the board, brides and grooms have been experiencing increased wedding costs for several years. For 2008, spending for the average wedding is expected to reach $28,704 and increase by almost $1000 more for next year. The Certified Wedding Planner can expect a modest increase on the average $1,483 spent this year on wedding planning services.

A new service by The Wedding Report, Cost of Wedding, allows wedding vendors and clients to view the average costs of different wedding goods and services as well as estimate the cost of a wedding in any area throughout the United States.

Couples Getting Married – The number of couples getting married during the past three months is mostly holding steady for 72% of vendors. Those experiencing an increase and decrease were 12% and 16% respectively.

With the winter months approaching, while the number of couples getting married will increase over the same time period last year, the inevitable drop in weddings during November and December cannot be avoided. Almost a quarter million couples wed during each of the past four months, but less than 200,000 will have weddings during the next two months, prompting many industry businesses to cut costs to survive.

Sales Expectations Next Three Months – For the fourth quarter 2008, wedding vendors are mostly optimistic with 39% anticipating good or excellent sales, 50% expecting sales growth to be neutral or fair, and only 11% of replies fearing poor future sales.

While the overall feeling from this survey is that our industry is holding strong, there is a reduction of respondents reporting excellent prospects for each category of 25% to 30%. For many wedding vendors, including Certified Wedding Planners, business success will depend on providing superior customer service, working closely with industry partners, and even considering a merger to supplement your appeal to an anxious client base.

Each month, researchers at The Wedding Report, Inc. compile the top 10 wedding consumer and industry trends from consumer and vendor feedback. Today, we highlight the latest trends and how they have evolved from previous months.

In keeping with the economic concerns everywhere, couples are continuing to set lower budgets and stretch their money using do-it-yourself solutions to wedding decorations and services. These include utilizing buffet meals, amateur photographers, mp3 players, and off-peak wedding times and settings.

Here is the list of overall September Trends. Keep these in mind as you are working with bridal client prospects who are concerned not just with the details of their wedding plans, but also with the size of their wedding budget.

1. Holding weddings on off-peak days, times, and months is more common

2. Budgets are shrinking and couples are looking for bargains

3. Do-it-yourself projects are replacing wedding products and services

4. Using iPods and mp3 players for music is trendy

5. Outdoor weddings are very popular

6. Couples and guests prefer buffet reception dinners over sit-down meals

7. Photography is more often done by amateurs, friends, or family members

8. Brides are spending less on wedding gowns

9. Bright, bold colors are fashionable

10. Destination weddings are becoming more popular

You can download the full report PDF for free at www.TheWeddingReport.com by setting up a free subscription. This resource also offers paid subscriptions that allow access to very detailed statistic and trend information that can be invaluable for the Certified Wedding Planner.